#LONDONCHEAPEATS

ELEPHANT & CASTLE | SE17

SOUP PLUS MEAT MAIN WITH SIDES | LEÑOS & CARBÓN | £8

You wouldn't have a clue from the outside. But behind the small glass doors, Leños & Carbon opens up to a large open restaurant with plenty of space out back, as well as a bar. These guys offer a two course Colombian meal, consisting of a soup followed by a meaty main with rice, salad and half a fried plantain, for £8.

It's available Mon to Fri from 12pm - 5pm, and on the weekends it goes up to £10.It's a Colombian world of its own in the heart of the city. I can only imagine how vibrant a full dinner service and a packed house must be. However, turning up for an early weekday lunch proved a much calmer setting. The entrance is just next to the Elephant and Castle overground station exit, just a leap away from the busy street food market.

I started my meal by taking the traditional route with a giant and hearty portion of red kidney bean soup. The other soup options change throughout the week - such as lentil, tripe, or Colombian fish - but the kidney bean soup is always available.The choice of mains remains the same every day, offering up dry or more saucy options. I went for a lightly flavoured grilled chicken, all mains served with fluffy white rice, fresh salad in a light dressing, and some sweet plantain. Normal menu mains are around £11 - £15, so if you can make it during these hours, you're getting a good deal.